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New York City youth give a shout out to human rights worldwide

The event, organized by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) and the New York City Mayor’s Office, was a call to action to youth.

“Positive change is possible when we unite in action. By being here, you’re responding to the call for action,” Ilze Brands Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, told more than 500 students attending the event.

She noted that in today’s polarized world, change won’t happen without the creativity and energy of young people.

Passion and innovation

“The passion, energy and innovation in your thinking are the catalysts,” she noted. “You’re not only the leaders of tomorrow, you’re the leaders of today.”

During the event, students presented research they compiled to highlight the challenges created by a lack of funding for mental health programmes, a lack of diversity in education, systematic racism, and specific challenges faced by homeless youth.

In addition to presentations, students from the non-profit People’s Theatre Project, performed “Take it Seriously”, a series of scenes showing how mental health stressors impact high-school students. These include stress from peers, stress due to family members, and stress resulting from the media and pop culture.

Youth representatives take part in a human rights event at UN headquarters in New York.
United Nations/Nenad Vasic

Youth representatives take part in a human rights event at UN headquarters in New York.

Mental health support lacking

During the discussions, one of the students noted a lack of sufficient funding for mental support services in school. Another pointed to the impact of systematic racism against young students. Discussions also touched on rising fees for public schools, and how students can be denied access to drop-in homeless shelters to sleep there overnight.

“Children shouldn’t have to change for the system. The system should change for them,” one student said.

Youth representatives (left to right) Kennedy Iwule, Tabassum Rahman, Elinor Hershkowitz, Jahzara Wilson, take part in a human rights event.
UN News/Paulina Kubiak Greer

Youth representatives (left to right) Kennedy Iwule, Tabassum Rahman, Elinor Hershkowitz, Jahzara Wilson, take part in a human rights event.

Prior to the discussions, students heard from activist and Brooklyn native Chelsea Miller, who led the students in a call-and-response urging greater action from world leaders.

Calling for action

“Collective punishment,” said Ms. Miller, as some 500 students called out “Shame.”

“State-sanctioned violence… Shame.”

“Silence…. Shame.”

“So, to our world leaders, we are saying shame,” Ms. Miller concluded to cheers from the audience.

The event was organized ahead of Human Rights Day, commemorated on 10 December.

The Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Annabel Palma, who is a life-long resident of the Bronx, said Sunday’s milestone commemoration and today’s event was an opportunity to bring everyone’s voices to the table.

We’re all one city and we’re all in this together – if we give the best that we can to each other and to our city.”

UN affirms solidarity with the Palestinian people on International Day

The annual observation on 29 November marks the day in 1947 that the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on partitioning Palestine into two independent States, one Arab and one Jewish.

The 1948 displacement of Palestinians from land that became Israel – known as the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic) – is the subject of an exhibition currently on display at UN Headquarters in New York.

Barefoot and pushing their belongings in prams and carts, Arab families leave  the coastal town of Jaffa which became part of the greater Tel Aviv area in the state of Israel.
UN Photo

Barefoot and pushing their belongings in prams and carts, Arab families leave the coastal town of Jaffa which became part of the greater Tel Aviv area in the state of Israel.

‘Humanitarian catastrophe’

The International Day has been commemorated since 1978.  This year, it took place against the backdrop of war in the Gaza Strip, where a truce between Israel and Hamas is set to expire after holding for six days.

Palestinians in Gaza are suffering “a humanitarian catastrophe”, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his message for the Day.

“Almost 1.7 million people have been forced from their homes – but nowhere is safe,” he said, while also warning that “the situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, risks boiling over.”

A reminder of 1948

The plight of Palestine refugees remains the world’s longest unresolved refugee crisis, said Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the UN agency that has assisted this population for the past 75 years.

He added that “the appalling human tragedy we are witnessing in Gaza is reminiscent of the collective trauma experienced by Palestinians in 1948.”

UNRWA supports some five million Palestine refugees across the Middle East, providing education, healthcare and social protection, among other services.

Commitment to stay

“In Gaza, we are determined not only to stay, but to scale up our operation to meet the enormous needs of the community,” said Mr. Lazzarini, noting that over one million people are now housed in overcrowded shelters.

“In the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, we will continue to do whatever we can to protect our critical services delivery for as long as it is needed, providing vital stability to the region.”

Although UNRWA “remains a beacon of hope amid despair and destruction,” he stressed the urgent need for “a genuine political resolution that meets the legitimate aspirations of Palestinian refugees.”

Extensive destruction is seen in the Gaza strip following Israeli airstrikes on 10 October 2023.
WHO

Extensive destruction is seen in the Gaza strip following Israeli airstrikes on 10 October 2023.

Uphold rights, restore hope

Speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, General Assembly President Dennis Francis expressed sorrow “for the lives lost – both in the past seven weeks, and over the past seven decades.”

Like all human beings, the Palestinian people are entitled to their fundamental and inalienable right to live in dignity, with all liberties, he said.  This includes freedom of movement, as well as freedom from fear and want, and unfettered access to basic services.

“It is, therefore, imperative that we restore and sustain their hope – especially among the younger generations that have never experienced what peace looks or feels like,” he said.

By doing so, the international community will have “fulfilled our duty of care – in reaffirming the fundamental principle that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights,” he added.

Dialogue and diplomacy

Mr. Francis said ensuring that every Palestinian sees these inalienable rights as realised and respected, first and foremost requires permanent peace in the Middle East.

He also upheld the need to re-engage in dialogue while adhering to relevant UN resolutions and international instruments.

He welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and expressed support for all efforts to implement the truce and maximize its positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.  

“Peace for all’

“These days of respite from hostilities must be optimised to alleviate the dire needs of Palestinians – allowing them to mourn their dead, to have unhindered access to food and water as well as other urgently needed services,” he said.

The Assembly President said the UN “cannot lose sight of one of the ultimate and primary goals that brought our Organisation into being: Peace for all.”  

He appealed to the international community “to leverage its power to seek compromise, direct dialogue, while fostering trust and good-faith negotiations in the Middle East.” 

UN and African Union sign new human rights agreement

At the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat signed a framework agreement on human rights, which follows a previous accord on peace and security, and another on development. 

Speaking afterwards to reporters, they underscored the need to reform the global financial architecture to reflect current realities.

“What Africa needs above all is justice in international relations because Africa has been the victim of the structural injustices of our international relations,” said Mr. Guterres. 

Haven for terrorism 

Touching on their discussions, Mr. Faki began by focusing on peace and security.  He said that Africa is going through a “difficult period” as it has become “a haven for terrorism and extremism,” affecting many regions and as some AU peacekeeping operations are drawing down.

Africa is also facing economic challenges brought on by what he called the “triple crisis” of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the consequences of the war in Ukraine, which has impacted food supply.

He stressed that financing for both development and peace is critical, together with reform of global financial institutions.

Call for climate justice

Mr. Faki said the two leaders will attend the COP28 climate conference that opens this week in Dubai which must also be the opportunity to advocate for Africa “which is severely impacted by the effects of climate change even though it pollutes very little.”

The transition to green energy must be fair, he said, given that some 600 million people across the continent still do not have access to electricity.

“We also need to ensure that we are on the right track for development. And this will perhaps help us to mitigate the issue of migration which has become a particularly delicate issue for our neighbors in Europe,” he added.

A top priority 

Mr. Guterres underscored that Africa remains a key UN priority, highlighting the importance of working with the AU “based on the principle of African-led solutions for African problems”.

He said the continent has been “the double victim of injustice” linked to colonialism and slavery in the past and financial and economic power relations today.

Seeds of frustration 

Africa had some of the highest economic growth rates in the world prior to the pandemic, which exposed injustices, including through the distribution of vaccines and in increased debt burdens that restrict fiscal space.

As a result, countries cannot respond to the basic needs of their populations, which are mainly made up of youth, leading to enormous frustration which sows the seeds for instability, coups and other developments that undermine peace and security.

“It’s very important to give a double response to those problems of peace and security. First of all, to recognize that peacekeeping missions do not make sense where there is no peace to keep,” said Mr. Guterres.

Support AU operations 

He called for peace enforcement and counterterrorism operations in Africa that are led by the AU and mandated by the UN Security Council, and the assessed contributions necessary to finance those missions. 

“They are the only way to be effective in fighting the kind of violence and terrorism that is now proliferating in many African countries,” he said.

The UN chief also emphasized the need to mobilize the international community to address the economic and social root causes of conflicts.  “And that is why we are so keen on the need for reforming international financial institutions in order to make sure that they correspond to today’s economy and not to the economy after the Second World War,” he said. 

Gaza and Sudan 

During a question-and-answer segment, the UN chief was asked about the current pause in fighting in Gaza, which has been in place for five days. 

Although the truce was “a step in the right direction” and “a symbol of hope”, Mr. Guterres said “it doesn’t solve the key problems we face”.  He repeated his call for a humanitarian ceasefire leading to the unconditional release of hostages and the delivery of aid to all people in Gaza. 

Both leaders were also asked if the call for the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers from Sudan, and reports of atrocities in West Darfur, represented a failure of the international community. 

Mr. Guterres described the situation in Sudan – where rival generals have been fighting since mid-April – as “the fault of those that sacrifice the interests of their people for a pure struggle for power, and of the ones that support them based on considerations that I would not like to comment (on) today.” 

INTERVIEW: UN General Assembly resolutions represent ‘the conscience of humanity’, President says

“We never get unanimity in resolutions but when you can command more than two-thirds of the votes in the house, that’s a powerful symbol, a powerful message, of agreement, of consensus,” said General Assembly President Dennis Francis, reflecting on the adoption of the resolution last month.

Equal voting rights 

As the UN’s main policy-making body, the General Assembly is where all Member States have an equal vote on the full spectrum of issues before it, including matters related to peace and security.

Although its resolutions are non-binding, “they make a political declaration on the part of the majority of members of the international community,” he said.

Mr. Francis assumed his presidency in September and will serve for a year.  Since then, he has been spearheading meetings on topics that include rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preparing for the next global pandemic, ensuring health coverage for all people and reforming the UN Security Council. 

The veteran diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago recently sat down with UN News to reflect on his priorities, the important role of the General Assembly, and why critics should engage with the UN.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

UN News: In your first speech to the UN General Assembly, you reminded world leaders of your focus on four areas: peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability. All of these are in peril to some degree, and sometimes for overlapping reasons. How are you ensuring that countries will unite to address them?

Dennis Francis: Well, they are united, primarily through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030 because that is a broad unifying development agenda that brings the 193 Members of the United Nations together to take action in concert in order to lift people out of poverty, deprivation, hunger, malnutrition and to create the conditions to transform the world into a more sustainable way of operating. So, it’s about the planet as much as it is about people.

But we are also united in other ways because when peace and security is disrupted, such as it has been in the last two or three years in particular, the impact is consequential for everyone.

It’s in all our interest to promote and to secure peace because the lack of peace, the lack of harmony in the system, undermines the system and makes complicated all of the other great goals and objectives that we have.

UN News: You mentioned disruptions to peace and security, and we cannot go without talking about what is currently happening in the Middle East. Can the General Assembly exert any influence here?

Dennis Francis: Well, we have because two-and-a-half weeks ago the General Assembly successfully adopted what is the first resolution coming out of the United Nations system on the situation in Gaza, calling for a ceasefire, the unconditional release of all of the hostages, and for the provision of humanitarian aid and support.

Now, put into context the fact that at that time, the Security Council had met and tried to agree a resolution on four separate occasions and had failed. So, the General Assembly in fact was able to come up with a resolution for which there was a broad consensus: 121 countries, I believe, supported it.

That I think has been a big contribution made by the United Nations because in furtherance of the goals of the UN Charter, which is to save humanity from the scourge of war, we were able to bring forward this resolution as a way of stopping the war.

We’ve said plainly in that resolution that what the General Assembly requires, desires, is a ceasefire in order to save human lives – 11,000 people dead as a consequence of the action in Gaza is too much. It is unspeakable and it is unacceptable. And so, we’ve called for that, but also emphasizing the necessity for Hamas to return the hostages to their families unconditionally so.

UN News: As you have reminded us, the General Assembly unites all 193 UN Member States.  Your resolutions, though non-binding, do carry moral weight.

Dennis Francis. Absolutely.  They make a political declaration on the part of the majority of members of the international community. And in a sense, they create a sort of soft law because resolutions of the General Assembly represent, in a sense, the conscience of humanity, the dominant view of humanity.

We never get unanimity in resolutions but when you can command more than two-thirds of the votes in the house, that’s a powerful symbol, a powerful message, of agreement of consensus. And that’s what we were able to do. Our call on all the relevant players is that they would honour and implement that resolution alongside the resolution that was agreed on Wednesday in the Security Council.

UN News: I know you mentioned that this is a reflection of the conscience of the majority of UN Member States but is that enough? Some people might say that’s kind of like the diplomatic version of “it’s the thought that counts”.

Dennis Francis: But the thought does count! If you listen carefully to the positions and the views that are being reflected, the big debate is about principles and values, so the thought does count. The politics only arises insofar as there is a different point of view and differing points of view, so thoughts count and are powerful.

That is why a resolution passed in the General Assembly assumes a high degree of importance because it bears powerful political messages. That is why countries negotiate these resolutions with such energy and dedication because they appreciate the potential impact it’s going to have publicly. 

Most countries that I’m aware of are not comfortable feeling themselves politically isolated. Countries are like human beings. Human beings like to be appreciated, loved, they like to feel the respect and support of their friends, they want to engage, they want to have a conversation. We were meant to be that way.

Countries are no different because when you build those bridges of relationships, it widens the space within which you can act as a country, as a sovereign. When you do not have those supporting relationships, the options you have narrow significantly.

And so that is the import of a General Assembly resolution. It provides the messaging that can make a big difference politically. And since public opinion always plays a role in these matters, we must keep that in mind.

Dennis Francis (centre), President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, addresses the informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Secretary-General's  “Our Common Agenda” report.
UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras

Dennis Francis (centre), President of the 78th session of the General Assembly, addresses the informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Secretary-General’s “Our Common Agenda” report.

UN News: One of your concerns is the status of the so-called Least Developed Countries. Many are trapped in debt because of the structure of the current financial architecture. The UN Secretary-General has also said many times that it is outdated. Can you tell us what action the General Assembly can take in this regard? 

Dennis Francis: Well, the global financial architecture is outdated. It was set up at a time in the late 1940s when most of the countries that exist now did not exist at all. The so-called Global South, the Group of 77 and China that I believe comprises approximately 140 countries, did not exist.

So, you have a global financial architecture that was designed at a different time with goals and objectives that did not take in to account the developmental needs and priorities nor peculiarities of developing countries.

Take for example landlocked States that are experiencing great difficulty. The cost of everything in a landlocked State is twice as high as in the average coastal State because they are isolated from the sea. Consumers who live in that country have to pay twice what the average consumer in a coastal State will pay. That constitutes hardship. It’s the same thing in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), many of which are isolated because they are far away from global markets.

I’ve prioritized this group of what we refer to as countries in vulnerable situations because they are developmentally stretched.

The system has not really catered or been designed to take in to account the needs of those countries and to help and support them to move up the developmental ladder in a sustainable way.

UN News: I’d like to ask you about the General Assembly’s High-level Week in September. Of course, this was your first as President but you’re no stranger to the UN. Was there anything special or anything different about this one?

Dennis Francis: It was enormously different because High-level Week consisted of a number of very important discrete components, one of which was the SDG Summit which was quite a success, and I congratulate the Secretary-General in that regard. But we also had adopted during that week, three important declarations on health issues. 

As you know, the pandemic really revealed a lot about the way we are organized at present and there was a desire for us to reflect on what lessons have been learned about global preparedness in the event there should be another. Incidentally, climate scientists have kept warning us that because of the warming of the atmosphere, the likelihood is that there will be more frequent pandemics and they are likely to be more virulent.

So, pragmatism dictates that we prepare ourselves organizationally to cope better with future pandemics. Heads of State and Government agreed on a declaration regarding pandemic preparedness, prevention and response. They also agreed a document on universal healthcare and a declaration on tuberculosis, which has made a comeback. 

UN News: Finally, there’s criticism among some people that the United Nations is outdated and ineffective, and by extension they’re also criticizing the General Assembly. How do you defend against such criticism? 

Dennis Francis: Well, first of all, people have the right to their views. I would encourage them, however, to engage with us a little bit more because what people see in a one-minute news bite does not constitute the entirety of the work of the UN.

Having said that, I would also say that the UN itself is not insensitive to the fact that there’s a kind of lethargy and disappointment out there with how the UN has been performing of late.

But let me say this: the UN does not exist out there on its own. It is comprised of 193 sovereign Governments. That word ‘sovereign’ is very important because it means that those Governments can and do make decisions based on their national interests and priorities.

What the UN does is create a platform for them to come together to try to agree common approaches to various global problems.

So, I’ll ask this: If the UN is irrelevant, what would you replace it with? And so, I say to people thank God the UN exists because it creates a much-needed platform for coordination, consultation, and cooperation among 193 States that would otherwise have no means and no opportunity to meet, to coordinate, to solve global problems and issues.

That’s a powerful and potentially groundbreaking, earth-shattering achievement that the UN has made over the years – and, besides, prevented World War Three.  

World Toilet Day, flush with innovations for safer sanitation

In line with this year’s theme of accelerating change, innovators have been part of ongoing efforts to address the needs of some of the world’s 3.5 billion people living without safe toilets.

From a Nepalese woman who prompted her village to improve hygiene to a fresh game plan launched in 2022 by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), these game changers are advancing progress towards the 2030 Agenda’s ambition to achieve clean water and sanitation for all through its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.

So is a group of young people who are driving sanitation innovation in Kisumu, Kenya.

Award-winning eco-toilet

Saniwise Technologies, a firm made up of a team of young entrepreneurs, designed an award-winning eco-toilet that also produces manure and chicken feed.

“Having been brought up by a single mum in a low-income area, I understand the challenges,” said Chelsea Johannes of Saniwise. “Toilets are hard to maintain, and no one wants to contribute money to empty them properly. That’s one of the reasons we set up Saniwise.”

The UN marks World Toilet Day on 19 November.
UN News

The UN marks World Toilet Day on 19 November.

Using its blue, well-ventilated prototype, the Saniwise team aims to make many more toilets for the community, she said.

It has already won seed money to do so, after its prototype took second prize at a global competition held by Generation Unlimited, which was founded by UNICEF, Microsoft, IKEA and other partners to foster innovations like these.

Green prototype

Made of recycled materials, including plastic waste, the prototype is well ventilated and uses dry toilet technologies. After visiting the toilet, black soldier fly larvae churn human waste into manure.

“This is the black soldier fly larvae,” she said, pointing to several white grubs in the toilet pan. “They’re digesting the waste. You can see that it already looks more like soil. In four days’ time, it will be ready to sell as manure.”

‘Young people helping themselves’

Saniwise Technologies also sells the by-products to local farmers, like 77-year-old John Ochieng.

On a hot, humid morning on Mr. Ochieng’s farm, he strides through the fields in bare feet. Along the way, he collects a bag of manure from Ms. Johannes and her colleagues, after meeting them at a nearby lagoon.

“I was curious about the toilet they had built,” he said. “They told me that it makes manure and chicken feed, so I bought some samples from them.”

Chelsea Johannes (right) explains how the Saniwise Technologies eco-toilet works.
© UNICEF/Paul Kidero

Chelsea Johannes (right) explains how the Saniwise Technologies eco-toilet works.

The manure is already helping his farm.

“I like the products,” he said. “The manure helps my crops grow very green and fruitful. When I gave my chickens the feed, they enjoyed it. It’s good to see young people helping themselves.”

Find out more about how the UN is helping to accelerate progress on improving clean water and sanitation around the world here.

SDG 6
United Nations

SDG 6

SDG 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

 

  • Achieve universal and equitable access to safe, affordable drinking water and adequate, equitable sanitation and hygiene for all
  • Improve water quality by reducing pollution
  • Increase recycling and safe reuse globally
  • Increase water-use efficiency across all sectors
  • Support and strengthen participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

 

According to the UN, 2.2 billion people currently lack safely managed drinking water and basic handwashing facilities, and 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation.

 

World News in Brief: Dozens dead in Yemen shipwreck, Pakistan expulsions ‘must stop’, FAO aids Sudan farmers

More than 64 people are missing and feared dead after the vessel they were travelling in capsized on Sunday.

Approximately 90 migrants, including 60 women, were on board the vessel, which was heading to Yemen from the coast of Djibouti.

Twenty-six survivors were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard.

Global cooperation needed

 IOM is collaborating with partners and relevant authorities to gather more information about the incident, noting that the sinking was blamed on overloaded capacity and engine failure exacerbated by strong seasonal winds.   

“This tragedy highlights the pressing need for global cooperation in establishing safer migration pathways,” said Matt Huber, Acting Chief of Mission of IOM Yemen.

It also serves as a stark reminder of the e challenges faced by migrants who undertake perilous journeys in search of safety and better livelihood opportunities, the agency added.

Address root causes

IOM said Yemen is “strategically positioned on the Arabian Peninsula”, making it a crucial transit country for migrants from the Horn of Africa, primarily Ethiopians, travelling to Saudi Arabia or other Gulf nations in search of work.   

Data from the agency reveals that 867 deaths were recorded on the crossing between the Horn of Africa and Yemen in 2022. The majority, 795, occurred on the route between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

“We urge our partners to collaborate closely with IOM to enhance support for migrants in Yemen, address the root causes behind their decision to embark on these dangerous journeys, and collectively work towards safer and more humane support for migrants,” said Mr. Huber.

Pakistan’s expulsions of Afghans must stop amid abuse allegations: Türk

Pakistan must suspend expulsions of Afghan nationals and ensure protection for all those who may face persecution and torture when returned to Afghanistan, UN human rights chief Volker Türk said on Wednesday.

Pakistan ordered undocumented foreigners, including Afghans residing in the country, to leave by 1 November. Mr. Türk expressed alarm over reports that expulsions have been accompanied by ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detention, destruction of property and extortion.

“These new developments are at variance with Pakistan’s decades-long tradition of hosting, generously, Afghan refugees in vast numbers,” Mr. Türk said.

The UN rights chief called for investigations of abuse allegations by law enforcement officers and to apply the principle of non-refoulement to protect Afghans who may be in danger back in their country. At particular risk are Afghan women and girls, former government officials and security personnel, ethnic and religious minorities, human rights defenders, civil society activists and media workers. 

Mr. Türk also stressed that Afghanistan’s de facto authorities have to “ensure that such individuals are not targeted in Afghanistan after their arrival.”

Sudan: With hunger on the rise FAO helps farmers grow food, save livestock

In war-torn Sudan, one million farming households received precious seeds allowing them to grow food for up to 19 million people this year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Wednesday.

FAO said that it provided nearly 10,000 tonnes of seeds for the critical planting season from June to September, enabling farmers to cultivate crops amid the ongoing conflict at a time of skyrocketing seed prices.

More than 20 million people in the country face crisis levels of acute food insecurity. Animal disease outbreaks are also on the rise and could lead to “significant” livestock losses, FAO said. The UN agency has been supporting animal health through vaccination and treatment and will be providing pastoral households with milking goats that are “crucial” to preventing malnutrition in young children.

To urgently scale up its support, FAO said that it still needs almost 80 per cent of the funding required under the revised Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for this year, or some $75.4 million.

UN honours 101 staff killed in Gaza conflict

The fallen colleagues worked for the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, providing life-saving aid to Gaza’s 2.2 million people, amid constant bombardment over the past month and a complete siege of the enclave.

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They were school principals, teachers, health workers, including a gynaecologist, engineers, support staff and a psychologist. 

“UNRWA staff in Gaza appreciate the UN lowering the flag around the world. In Gaza however, we have to keep the UN flag flying high as a sign that we are still standing and serving the people of Gaza,” said Tom White, the agency’s Director in the Gaza Strip, speaking from Rafah.   

Minute of silence

UN officials and staff at duty stations worldwide observed a minute of silence in  memory of their deceased colleagues, while the UN flag was flown at half-mast.

Speaking in Geneva, Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office in the Swiss city said their deaths represented the highest number of aid workers killed in UN history in such a short time.  

“Thousands of our colleagues continue to work under the UN flag in [the] most risky parts of the world. And let’s pay tribute to their activities, to their work, to their devotion,” she said.

‘A guiding light’

The UNRWA staff members “embodied the spirit of the United Nations, standing on the frontlines of conflict zones to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance and support,” said the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaking at its headquarters in Geneva.

 “Their unwavering dedication to peace, justice, and the well-being of others serves as a guiding light and a reminder of the importance of our shared mission,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus told WHO personnel.

Staff Union Ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York, to honor colleagues killed in Gaza
UN News

Staff Union Ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York, to honor colleagues killed in Gaza

Secretary-General António Guterres led the minute of silence at UN Headquarters in New York, which was held in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber.

He stood before UN Resident Coordinators from around the world, who are meeting this week, flanked by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and the President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis.

Meanwhile, the UN Staff Union held a ceremony in the Secretariat lobby where the names of the deceased colleagues were read aloud.  

“May they rest in eternal power and peace,” said First Vice-President Francisco Brito, surrounded by staff members, some of whom held signs that said ‘responsibility to protect,’ ‘stop the killing,’ ‘protect civilians’ and other appeals.

UN flag lowered

The commemoration at the Secretariat began around 7:30 AM, with the UN flag being raised to half-mast – the sole one flying that day.

Normally all the flags of the UN’s 193 Member States and two observer States – Palestine and Vatican City – are raised each weekday morning, and in alphabetical order, then lowered in the afternoon.

The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine, Riyad Mansour who attended the simple ceremony in front of the Secretariat, said the gesture honoured the deceased UNRWA staff members and all “Palestinian martyrs”, including thousands of children killed in the “barbaric war”.

He stressed the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, along with “hundreds of truckloads” of aid, medicine and water.

“And we want to stop the crime against humanity of forced mass transfer…to allow the Palestinian people to stay in the Gaza Strip. It is our homeland,” he continued.  

“We don’t want to live a second Nakba. We want to stay in our homeland and to rebuild the Gaza Strip.”

Mr. Mansour also expressed hope for “a political horizon” to end the occupation “so that Palestinian people can live in freedom and dignity in our independent State, with Holy Jerusalem as the capital of our State.” 

World News in Brief: ‘Outrage’ over Black Sea attack, funding pledge to alleviate El Niño, breast cancer alert

Humanitarian Coordinator Denise Brown said in a statement that Wednesday’s attack came on the heels of a series of assaults that killed and inured civilians, destroyed grain supplies and damaged the historic Fine Arts Museum in the Ukrainian port city.

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“I share my condolences with the family of the killed port pilot and hope for the recovery of the injured”, she said.

Three of the injured were crew members from the Philippines, according to news reports.

Since the Russian withdrawal from the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative in July, there have been more than 30 attacks on Ukraine’s port infrastructure, but this marked the first time civilians have been killed and injured onboard a merchant ship.

“The consequences of this brutal and relentless pattern of Russian attacks on port facilities are devasting for Ukraine’s economy and the hundreds of millions of people facing hunger worldwide”, Ms. Brown said.

Funding needed to prevent El Niño from aggravating global hunger

The El Niño climate pattern will have severe impacts on agriculture and food security, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people who require urgent support, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday. 

El Niño affects farming and food production by bringing either too much or too little rain, depending on the region, and disrupting temperatures.

FAO called for emergency funding of $160 million to help over 4.8 million of the most vulnerable people in 34 countries and prevent damage and loss of crops, livestock, land, water and infrastructure.

The UN agency warned that the world was entering the current El Niño cycle with a record 258 million people experiencing acute hunger and only a fifth of the total funds required to cope with the high levels of food insecurity.

Farmers, pastoralists, fishers and other small-scale producers bear the brunt of climate shocks, FAO said. In Somalia, the UN agency supported them by repairing riverbank breakage points along the Shabelle river to protect 40,000 hectares of cropland from floods.

“Every dollar invested in anticipatory action can create a return for farming families of more than $7 in avoided losses and added benefits,” according to the FAO.

‘Striking’ regional inequalities in early breast cancer detection

Crucial early detection of breast cancer is strongly determined by where the cancer patient lives, according to new research by the UN World Health Organization’s cancer research agency, IARC.

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The study of more than two million women across 81 countries published on Thursday found “striking” variations across countries and regions.

Close to one in three women diagnosed with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa for example were found to have later-stage tumours which had spread from their original location, compared to just one in 10 in Europe and North America.

The report also shows that a higher proportion of women with low socioeconomic status were diagnosed with later-stage tumours.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type worldwide and the leading cause of death from cancer in women. 

To reduce breast cancer deaths, WHO advises that countries strive to increase the proportion of breast cancers diagnosed at an early stage to at least 60 per cent, which requires investment in detection capabilities and in data-gathering.

Five judges elected to United Nations’ top court

In parallel and independent voting conducted by secret ballot, the Assembly and the Council re-elected one judge who is currently serving, Hilary Charlesworth of Australia.

Another justice currently on the bench, Kirill Gevorgian of Russia, was not successful in securing another term.  

Four new justices were elected: Bogdan-Lucian Aurescu (Romania); Sarah Hull Cleveland (United States); Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo Verduzco (Mexico); and Dire Tladi (South Africa).

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In the complex balloting procedure, the General Assembly achieved a conclusive result – with five candidates securing absolute majority support – in the first round of voting.

By contrast, the Security Council went through five rounds of balloting.

Each justice will serve a nine-year term, starting on 6 February next year.

The candidates

The candidates who were not selected were Chaloka Beyani (Zambia); Ahmed Amin Fathalla (Egypt); Kirill Gevorgian (Russia); and Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua (Democratic Republic of the Congo).

The elections

The election of the judges or members of the ICJ are held in accordance with the Statute of the Court, the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, and the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council.

To be elected, members must secure an absolute majority in both the General Assembly (97 votes) and Security Council (8 votes).  

If in the first ballot in either the Assembly or the Council, the number of candidates obtaining an absolute majority is fewer than five, a second ballot is held and balloting continues at the same meeting until five candidates have obtained the required majority.

There have been instances in which more than the required number of candidates have obtained an absolute majority on the same ballot. In these cases, the Assembly or the Council continue balloting until only five of the candidates have obtained the required majority.

The International Court of Justice, hearing a case.
UN Photo/Frank van Beek

The International Court of Justice, hearing a case.

The ‘World Court’

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who serve nine-year terms. Five seats come up for election every three years. There is no bar on consecutive terms.

Judges are chosen on the basis of their qualifications, not their nationality, but no two judges can be from the same country. Effort is also taken to ensure a balance in the composition of the Court.

Established in 1945, and based in The Hague in the Netherlands, the ICJ – informally known as the ‘World Court’ – settles legal disputes between States and gives advisory opinions on legal questions that have been referred to it by other authorized UN organs.

One relatively recent case that gained international attention involved a ruling against Myanmar in January 2020, ordering the country to protect its minority Rohingya population and the destruction of evidence related to genocide allegations. The case was brought by The Gambia against Myanmar.  

The election of the first members of the World Court took place on 6 February 1946, at the first session of the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

For a look back at the birth of the ICJ and the crucial role it plays in the work of the United Nations, check out our newly published UN Video piece today, part of our weekly Stories from the UN Archive series. 

Stories from the UN Archive: The first-ever case at the World Court

Mali: UN convoy concludes treacherous 350 kilometre journey

The development is the latest step in the accelerated withdrawal process of the Mission, known as MINUSMA, which is due to leave the West African country by the end of the year after a decade in operation.

The 143 vehicles left Kidal on 31 October and travelled nearly 350 kilometres, transporting 848 peacekeepers from Bangladesh, Chad, Egypt, Guinea and Nepal, as well as equipment.

‘A tremendous feat’

The convoy – which was reportedly approximately nine kilometres long – encountered six improvised explosive devices along the way.

Thirty-seven “blue helmets” required medical attention, though all have since been discharged or are in stable condition.

Speaking in New York on Wednesday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the convoy also had to depart without air support due to a lack of flight clearance from the Malian authorities – a situation that increased the safety risk of the peacekeepers.

“In addition to insecurity, bad weather and poor road conditions caused vehicles to break down, adding to the challenges the convoy faced on its way to Gao,” he told journalists.  

“As a result of the delays, they were running low on supplies, and had to be resupplied by air with fuel, water and other items,” he added.

Replying to reporters’ questions at Wednesday’s briefing, Mr. Dujarric said the convoy’s arrival was “a tribute to the amazing work that our peacekeepers do under the most difficult circumstances”.

“It’s a tremendous feat to bring a convoy of some 800 people, nine kilometres long, to relative safety and we’re happy that as far as we know, none of the peacekeepers were seriously injured.”

Departure and liquidation

The departure from Kidal marks the closure of MINUSMA’s eighth base out of a total of 13.  

In the coming weeks, the Mission will end its presence in Ansango, located in the Gao region, followed by Mopti, thus completing the second and final phase of the withdrawal plan.

The remaining bases of Gao, Timbuktu and Bamako, where MINUSMA is currently consolidating its presence, will be handed over to the Malian authorities once the so-called liquidation phase, which begins on 1 January, is completed.

Only a small team will remain behind to oversee both the orderly transport of assets belonging to countries that contributed uniformed personnel to the Mission, and appropriate disposal of UN-owned equipment

“These assets will either be repatriated or redeployed with other UN missions, or gifted to the Malian authorities or sold in the market, in accordance with our relevant rules and regulations regarding the closure of peacekeeping missions,” said Mr. Dujarric.

End drawing nigh

MINUSMA was established by the UN Security Council in April 2013 in the wake of a coup in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and an insurgency in the north.

The Mission has supported political processes and carried out a number of security-related tasks.  It has often been referred to as among the most dangerous UN peacekeeping missions, with 310 fatalities recorded.

The Council terminated the Mission’s mandate in June following a request by Mali’s military government.

As the drawdown of MINUSMA personnel continues, half of the 13,871 personnel have now departed the country.

Chadian and Guinean peacekeepers who were in the convoy that left Kidal are this week scheduled to depart Gao for their homelands.  

Mr. Dujarric reaffirmed the UN’s determination to complete the MINUSMA withdrawal by 31 December, adding “and we are counting on the full support of Mali in that regard.”  

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